NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Tesla Model S. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU1) HAVING PROBLEMS, DOESN'T VIDEOS RECORD PROPERLY, LOT OF PIXCELLATION, HANGS UP ABRUPTLY, YELLOW LINES OBSERVED
DRIVER SEAT WAS REPLACED IN EARLIER APPOINTMENTS HOWEVER ROD STILL HITS BOTTOM (UNDERNEATH THE THIGHS AND BUTT). IT'S PAINS BAD AND LATER STOP BLOOD FLOW, NUMBS MY LEGS. I HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY ADJUST MYSELF TO CONTINUE MY DRIVING; AT THAT POINT I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR. I TRIED SEVERAL POSITIONS BUT IT STILL HURTS. HERE IS TESLA RESPONSE: ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER SAT IN THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT AND CONFIRMED CUSTOMER CONCERN. COMPARED TO MULTIPLE OTHER SERVICE AND INVENTORY VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND FOUND ALL COMPARABLE SEATS ARE SIMILAR. THIS IS INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT. RECOMMEND CUSTOMER ADJUST SEAT POSITIONS AND/OR LUMBAR SUPPORT TO A MORE COMFORTABLE POSITION SUITED TO THEIR PERSONAL PREFERENCE.
THE MCU1 ON MY TESLA HAS HAS GONE COMPLETELY DARK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BEFORE GOING COMPLETELY BLACK, I LOST NAVIGATION, BLINKERS WERE NOT OPERATIVE, ENTERTAINMENT WENT OUT, A CRYPTIC MESSAGE APPEARED INDICATING THAT I NEEDED TO CHARGE MY CAR IMMEDIATELY. BEFORE GOING COMPLETELY BLACK, ALL CLIMATE FUNCTIONS STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 7 WEEKS. TESLA SERVICE ASSURED ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT A SIMPLE RESET AND CLEARING SOME DATA WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT THIS LOSS OF FUNCTION IS A SIGN OF A FAILING MCU AND THAT TESLA IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. A REPLACEMENT COST $1,000..........AND IT IS REPLACED WITH A REFURBISHED UNIT THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE UNIT THAT FAILED IN THE FIRST PLACE!
MCU DOES NOT FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD ALL THE TIME. DASHBOARD GAUGES HAVE TURNED OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DISRUPTING NORMAL AND INTENDED OPERATION.
MAIN CENTER SCREEN (REFERRED TO AS MCU1) QUIT WORKING AFTER I DROVE HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING. THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE AND CHARGE-ABLE, BUT AUDIO/SAFETY CHIMES NO LONGER WORKED BECAUSE THOSE ARE POWERED BY THE MCU1 WHICH DIED. THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 2.75 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 89,000 MILES ON ODOMETER WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
MCU SPORADICALLY FREEZES AND/OR REBOOTS (WHILE IN MOTION) WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM US. THIS RENDERS THE DEFROST CONTROLS AND THE BACKUP CAMERA INOPERABLE UNTIL THE SYSTEM RESTARTS, WHICH TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THIS IS A KNOWN MCU FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURING ERROR ON THE PART OF TESLA CAUSING MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS AND RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE. *TR
FOR A FEW DAYS I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THEN WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE TIRE COLLIDED WITH THE WHEEL LINER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TESLA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVER CASTER ARM WAS BROKEN. I LATER READ THAT THERE HAD BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF 'LINKAGES NEAR THE BALL JOINTS' OF THE SUSPENSION FAILING, ALLOWING CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL LINER. THIS SOUNDS A LOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR SO I WANTED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE
I experienced the "Phantom Braking" phenomenon while driving on freeways. It has happened 3 or 4 times in the last year or so. I did not see any obvious reason for the car to have slowed down dramatically because there wasn't a car in front of me at such instances. it occurred while Autopilot was engaged. It has happened on different freeways (I-680, I-880), traversing in different directions and at different times of the day.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SUSPENSION DISABLED MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOWERED CAUSING DIFFICULTY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TESLA OF MATHEWS LOCATED AT 9140 E. INDEPENDENCE BLVD, MATTHEWS, NC 28105, WHERE THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE REAR SUSPENSION EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIN OF THE TESLA WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS COMPLAINT IS UNREADABLE AND THEREFORE IF HAVE USED A SUBSTITUTE VIN. IT WILL BE EASY FOR YOU TO CONTACT THE SALVAGE YARD AND OBTAIN THE CORRECT VIN. HERE IS THE SALVAGE AUCTION LISTING. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/36847721?ROWNUMBER=0 IT CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT THE TIP OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED OFF. THIS INSANE DESIGN USES A SLOTTED HOLE IN THE TIP OF THE KNUCKLE TO CLAMP THE TOP BALL JOINT IN PLACE. CAST ALUMINIUM IS BRITTLE AND HAS VIRTUALLY ZERO ELASTICITY. IT IS UNSURPRISING THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAPPENS REPEATEDLY IN TESLAS. DUE TO THE DICTATORIAL RULE OF ELON MUSK THESE FAILURES ARE NEVER INVESTIGATED OR REMEDIED. THEY ARE SIMPLY SWEPT UNDER THE RUG AND BURIED UNDER NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS. TESLA IS A SICK COMPANY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
MY CAR'S MCU (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT TOUCHSCREEN) IS NEAR DEATH AND 900 MILES FROM BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. THE SCREEN WENT BLACK ON ME FOR AN ENTIRE DAY BEFORE COMING BACK AND CONSTANTLY FREEZES AND NEEDS REBOOTS. DURING THIS TIME, I LOST ABILITY TO TURN ON AND OFF THE HEADLIGHTS, MUST RELY ON AUTO. LOST ABILITY TO CONTROL THE HVAC AND DEFROST. LOST ABILITY TO ADJUST AIR SUSPENSION. LOST ABILITY TO USE BACKUP CAMERA.
COMPUTER SCREEN HAS YELLOW BORDER. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE BACK UP CAMERA DOESN'T WORK, ESPECIALLY IF I BACK UP, STOP AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND BACK UP AGAIN. I ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE TO PUT THE SHIFTER INTO D OR R TWO TO FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT ENGAGES COMING FROM NEUTRAL. THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I CROSS AN EXPANSION STRIP IN THE ROAD, OR A MINOR BUMP AT OVER 25-30 MPH. TESLA CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY BE IN THE SUSPENSION. *TR
Additional report for same problem with DIFFERENT car. This report is not about a single incident, but rather a REPEATED problem over several years with the adaptive cruise control on 3 different Tesla cars I have owned. These cars are a 2017 Tesla S, and 2 different 2021 Tesla Y models. in each case, whenever these cars are driven on a highway with the adaptive cruise control engaged, several times during each hour of driving, the cars will rapidly brake/decelerate with no action taken to cause the situation by the driver, nor any external situations with the traffic that would justify them. With the Tesla regenerative braking, these deceleration events are so extreme that it would be easy to imagine an accident with a car following closely behind. Indeed, with these situations occurring with no warning and extreme braking they are quite frightening to the passengers traveling in the car. During the most recent occurrence, I noted the exact day and minute of it's occurrence, and filed a service request with the local Tesla office. Even with the exact time of this event, the service center was unable to find anything wrong with the car. The Tesla service center attributed this issue to problems with the Autopilot and Full Self Driving software, but none of my cars have had this optional software-only the software which came standard on each of these cars. While otherwise appreciating the good characteristics of these cars, this unexplainable deceleration problem is what caused me to sell the prior 2 models before purchasing this latest model Y, hoping that this problem would not recur. It is worth noting that I have owned several other make and model cars with comparable adaptive cruise control, yet this situation never occurred even once on any of these other makes of cars.
FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE GOING 30 MPH OR SLOWER ON SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD, TESLA REPLACED FRONT STRUTS UNDER WARRANTY IN MAY OF 2020, IS LITTLE BETTER BUT THE KNOCKING IS STILL THERE
The 2017 Tesla Model S we purchased has a known issue with the MCU. The MCU rewrites information in a log chip repeatedly and has been known to burn itself out after short periods of time. Tesla has agreed to replace the MCU owners when it malfunctions, but they will only do so when the chip has completely destroyed itself and will no longer boot. Ours was malfunctioning every ~40 mins...all of our screens would black out while driving. Tesla refused to replace it. Additionally, we purchased Full Self Driving from Tesla with a contract that stated "all needed equipment and software included." This was not a true statement. Those of us with the malfunctioning MCU1 were not included in the FSD program and were forced to bribe Tesla with $2500 to update our MCUs even when they were under warranty and should have been included under the FSD contract.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTROL PANEL DISPLAY WOULD SUDDENLY SHUTOFF AND THE SCREEN WOULD TURN BLACK. DURING THE FAILURE, THE TURN SIGNAL, AUDIO, AND THE REVERSE CAMERA WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER MT. KISCO TESLA LOCATED AT 115 KISCO AVE, MT KISCO, NY 10549, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
MY TESLA WAS BUILT WITH MCU V1.0. IT SLOWS DOWN AND FAILS TO RESPOND FEW TIMES. I HAVE TO PARK AND THEN INTERACT WITH IT. ALSO, HEARING THAT THIS MCU FAILS AFTER CERTAIN PERIOD. ALREADY THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS FROM CARS BUILT 2 YRS BACK (2015 - MINE IS 2017) THAT WHEN MCU FAILS, IT DOES OPERATE ALOT OF ITEMS THAT COULD POSE SAFETY ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS INSTALLED PURPOSELY BY TESLA SO THEY CAN CHARGE TO MAKE THE UPGRADE BY THE FEAR OF THE SAFETY ISSUE.
HERE IS A TESLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/36599781?ROWNUMBER=2 THE BACK WHEEL AND SUSPENSION HAS SIMPLY FALLEN OFF. OTHER THAN THIS THE CAR IS UNMARKED AND IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH ( DUE ONLY TO GOOD FORTUNE) THE BACK SUSPENSION HAS SIMPLY FALLEN TO BITS. THE AIR SUSPENSION HAS FAILED CAUSING THE WHEELS TO JAM UP IN THE WELLS UNTIL THE STRAIN CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO SNAP. TESLA MAKES SUSPENSION PARTS FROM LOW QUALITY EXTRUDED ALUMINUM. THIS SAME FAILURE HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AND HAS PLAYED A PART IN MANY FATAL CRASHES. CHECK OUT THIS COLLECTION OF PHOTOS TO SEE MANY MORE EXAMPLES. HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/SETS/72157658490111523/ HOW MUCH MORE EVIDENCE DO YOU NEED BEFORE DEMANDING A RECALL? YOURS WHOMPILY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY MAIN SCREEN WOULD COMPLETELY GO BLACK RANDOMLY AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN FRONT OF ME WOULD ALSO GO BLACK AND AS A RESULT I CAN'T SEE HOW FAST I'M GOING OR MY BLIND SPOTS OR ANYTHING REALLY. IT'S THE MCU THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TESLA WON'T REPLACE IT. *TR
MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS ARE NO LONGER WORKING IN CAR. THE SCREEN HASN'T HAD A YELLOW FRAME AROUND IT FOR NEARLY A YEAR.THEY REPLACE THE FIRST ONE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN IT DID IT AGAIN WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I WANTED IT REPLACED I WAS TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET. SO I HAD THEM NOTE IN THE NOTES THAT MY CAR NEEDED A SCREEN EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY WAS TO FALL OUT. MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS NO LONGER WORK. CERTAIN CLIMATE CONTROL FEATURES DON'T WORK. MOBILE APP NO LONGER WORKS WITH VEHICLE ON MOST FUNCTIONS. SCREEN SOMETIMES STAYS BLACK AND DOES NOT BOOT UP. MAYBE STUCK FOR MULTIPLE MINUTES WHILE CAR IS BOOTING UP. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE SCREEN GIVES US PROBLEMS IT IS NOT WHEN DRIVING. IT IS USUALLY WHEN WE FIRST GET INTO THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD ONE OCCURRENCE WHERE THE SCREEN SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR NEARLY A YEAR. AND IT SEEMS THAT MORE FEATURES ARE FAILING AS TIME GOES ON
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S 75. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, the brakes were seized while on autopilot. In addition, there was a warning error the contact was unable to remember. The contact mentioned the emergency brake engaged independently and the contact was unable to control the vehicle which caused the vehicle to crash into the guardrail. A police report was not filed. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a service center where a diagnostic was not attempted but the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 21v846000 ( forward collision avoidance). The approximate failure mileage was 54,504. Vehicle was not listed on the recall.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARDWARE COMPUTER FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ONCE FOR THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER TESLA SERVICE CENTER - LATHAM (326 OLD NISKAYUNA RD, LATHAM, NY 12110) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITHOUT THE INDICATOR LIGHTS OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATIONAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.
MY 2017 MODEL S HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE MCU WHEREBY THE CENTER SCREEN WOULD RESTART WHILE DRIVING. MANY OCCASIONS I WOULD BE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND CENTER SCREEN WOULD RESTART OR GO BLACK FOR EXTENDED TIME RESULTING IN NO BACK UP CAMERA OR TURN SIGNAL ACCESS. EARLIER THIS YEAR BEFORE COVID, I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE TO GO DROP OF MY KIDS AT SCHOOL. AND, THE CENTER SCREEN WAS BLACK FOR THE WHOLE TRIP - NO ACCESS TO BACK UP CAMERA, TURN SIGNALS, OR DEFROST CONTROLS.
MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YRS OLD AND WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING STRUCTURE, I FELT A LIFT THEN LOWERING OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL (LIKE GOING OVER SPEED BUMP, BUT THERE WAS NONE) THEN WOULD BARELY DRIVE. TOLD THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM IS BROKEN.
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIN OF A RANDOM TESLA MODEL S HAS BEEN USED TO ENABLE ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. HERE IS A FRESHLY UPLOADED YOUTUBE VIDEO OF SOME KIDS FOOLING AROUND WITH AUTOPILOT AND PUTTING MANY LIVES AT RISK. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GXGLMMMFKUA DESPITE SEVERAL FATALITIES AND THE SCATHING NTSB REPORT PEOPLE ARE STILL DOING DANGEROUS THINGS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE MISCONCEPTION THAT AUTOPILOT IS SELF DRIVING AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO RELY ON IT. THIS PUBLIC MISCONCEPTION WAS DELIBERATELY ENGINEERED BY ELON MUSK. AUTOPILOT SHOULD BE GEOFENCED SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IT ON UNDIVIDED ROADS. DRIVER MONITORING SHOULD BE IN PLACE TO PREVENT THE KIND OF STUPIDITY SHOWN IN THIS VIDEO. SINCE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDO THE WIDELY HELD BELIEF THAT AUTOPILOT IS PERFECTLY SAFE AND INDEED SAFER THAN A HUMAN DRIVER THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO DISABLE TESLA AUTOPILOT IMMEDIATELY VIA AN OVER THE AIR UPDATE. THE WRECKERS YARDS ARE FILLED WITH ASTONISHING NUMBERS OF CRASHED TESLAS. HTTPS://POCTRA.COM/TESLA-FOR-SALE IT IS A CERTAINTY THAT MANY OF THESE TESLA CRASHES WERE CAUSED BY DRIVER DISTRACTION I.E. TOUCHSCREEN AND/OR AUTOPILOT. I PETITION NHTSA TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OR DISABLING OF THIS DANGEROUSLY MISNAMED AUTOPILOT. THANK YOU. KEEF
ON 1/19/20 AT 1623 PHOENIX TIME WHILE COMING TO A STOP ON A SURFACE STREET THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. PROMPT APPLICATION OF THE BREAKS PREVENTED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
THIS IS A COMPLAINT RELATED TO THE TESLA BATTERY FIRES INVESTIGATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER 2017 TESLA TO BE ABLE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. THE WRECK OF THE BURNED OUT TESLA HAS NOW SHOWED UP IN THE SALVAGE YARD BUT IT IS TOO BADLY BURNED TO BE ABLE TO READ THE VIN. THERE WAS A FIRE ON JANUARY 10TH IN ARLINGTON INVOLVING A TESLA MODEL S HERE IS A VIDEO SHOWING THE TESLA ON FIRE OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AND SPEWING FLAMES IN ALL DIRECTIONS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=RTXKM_0I8VG THIS BURNED OUT WRECK WHICH IS NOW IN A CHICAGO SALVAGE YARD IS VERY LIKELY TO BE THE CAR THAT WAS ON FIRE. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/27044150 THE VIDEO OF THAT FIRE SHOWS JUST HOW DANGEROUS A BURNING TESLA IS. EVEN WITH SEVERAL FIRE-ENGINES AND THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTINGUISH. AN OCCUPANT OF THE HOUSE WAS TREATED BY PARAMEDICS. THE TESLA FAN CLUB HAS TRIED TO DEFLECT THE BLAME ON TO "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS" HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/CHRISTMAS-LIGHT-HOME-FIRE-IN-ARLINGTON-HEIGHTS-IL.181401/ YEAH RIGHT! IT'S A LITTLE PAST THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS! AS I AM SURE YOU WILL BE AWARE A SINGLE LITHIUM BATTERY CELL HAS ALWAYS GOT A NON-ZERO PERCENTAGE CHANCE OF CATCHING FIRE DUE TO INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. WHEN THERE ARE 7000 CELLS TIGHTLY PACKED TOGETHER A CHAIN REACTION A HIGHLY LIKELY OUTCOME. TESLA IS NOW TINKERING ABOUT WITH THE CHARGING RATES BUT THIS WILL NEVER ELIMINATE THE CHANCES OF THESE FIRES. PLEASE KEEP INVESTIGATING. THANK YOU. KEEF
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced an unstated the failure. The failure mileage was 18,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP IN A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A NEW RATTLE AT THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR, BUT THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY. MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO A STREET AND SLOWLY APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION. STOPPING AT THE INTERSECTION, THERE WAS A LOUD THUNK. GOT OUT AND SAW THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS OFF-CENTER IN THE WHEEL WELL AND TOUCHING THE REAR WHEEL WELL WALL. DROVE THE CAR 100 FEET BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT. CAR WAS TOWED TO TESLA SERVICE CENTER. TESLA REPLACED BOTH FORE LINK ASSEMBLIES. THERE IS A NOTATION ON THE REPAIR INVOICE THAT "FOUND BOTH FORE LINKS REVISION A'S. REPLACED BOTH FORE LINKS WITH REVISION B'S." I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL, AS I FIND MANY BLOG ENTRIES WHERE THE SAME PART HAS FAILED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND TESLA REPLACED THE ONE THAT HAD NOT FAILED WITH THE NEW REVISION.
WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT (AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED). I HEARD A LOUD POP. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS IN A BIND AS WELL AS MAKING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE TESLA SERVICE CENTER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN CONTROL ARM. HE COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT CAUSED THE ARM TO BREAK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED.
PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR BEING SO PERSISTENT IN MY REPORTING OF TESLA DEFECTS. I AM A MAN ON A MISSION. THE AFFECTED CAR IS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S, I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN SO I HAVE USED ONE FROM A WRECKED VEHICLE INSTEAD. HERE IS A THREAD DISCUSSING TESLA SUSPENSION BREAKAGES. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/LOWER-CONTROL-ARM-FAILURE.172590/#POST-4173704 *** COLORADOGIRL22, NOV 5, 2019 I HAVE A 2017 MODEL S. YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS BACKING UP SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT, I HEARD A LOUD CRUNCHING, SCRAPING SOUND, AND THEN MY FRONT RIGHT WHEEL "FELL OFF." TAKING A CLOSER LOOK, IT APPEARS THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SHEERED OFF FROM THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY (SEE PICS). I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT."***** SEE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS TIME, RATHER THAN A CRACKED ALLOY CASTING IT IS THE SHAFT OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT THAT HAS SNAPPED. THIS SAME FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES. THIS BALL JOINT STEM LOOKS TO BE OF VERY POOR QUALITY AND IS UNDERSIZED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR. THIS IS BAD DESIGN. BAD MANUFACTURE. BAD INSPECTION. BAD MAINTENANCE. ON THE TESLA FORUMS OWNERS WHO ARE CONSIDERING REPORTING THIS FAILURE ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED BY THE TESLA CONGREGATION. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THESE SUSPENSION BREAKAGES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED, IT IS LIKELY THAT SOME HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED AND THE OWNERS DID NOT LIVE TO TELL THE TALE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU KEEF
THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FRAGILE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ON TESLAS. HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS?ITEMID=34366240&ROWNUMBER=43&SIMILARVEHICLEITEMID=&ISNEXT=&LOADRECENT=TRUE THIS TIME THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS SNAPPED IN HALF. BOTH SECTIONS OF THE ARM HAVE FRACTURED. THIS IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF BAD QUALITY CASTING. THESE CARS ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU. KEEF
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT PERHAPS 2 MILES/HOUR, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CLIMBED A BURM, HIT A TREE, AND STOPPED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BURM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A TESLA MODEL S 2017 LOCATED IN UNITED KINGDOM. YOUR SYSTEM WILL NOT ACCEPT THE VIN SO I HAVE SUBSTITUTED THE VIN OF ANOTHER TESLA IN A US JUNKYARD. THIS IS NOT DONE WITH ANY INTENT TO MISLEAD. HERE IS THE ACTUAL CAR I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.CO.UK/LOT/53255428/PHOTOS THE AIR SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS CAUSING SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELLS. THE FRONT LH SUSPENSION HAS BEEN SMASHED TO PIECES. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG HAS NOT DEPLOYED. ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS HAVE SNAPPED. THE CAST ALLOY STEERING KNUCKLE HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THESE SUSPENSIONS ARE SIMPLY TOO WEAK FOR A CAR OF THIS WEIGHT AND PERFORMANCE. PLEASE WAKE UP TO THIS. THANK YOU. VERY CONCERNED CITIZEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE DRIVEWAY, THE SUSPENSION ARM FRACTURED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEFECT LED TO SCRATCHES ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE STRUCK THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISPUTED THIS CLAIM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE A COLLISION REPORT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,300.
SUSPENSION FIRE LINK MADE OF ALUMINUM BROKE
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN A CAR CUT INTO MY LANE, SO I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES REAL HARD, AND I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AND GRINDING NOISE AFTERWARDS. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW POPPED OUT OF PLACE. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT UNIQUE TO ME, MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THERE ARE CASES OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. TESLA SAYS IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED IN MY 2017 TESLA MODEL S 90D (16,500 MILES) WITH THE WHEELS TURNED TO THE LEFT, I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I THOUGHT I RAN OVER SOMETHING SO GOT OUT TO LOOK AND SAW NOTHING. AS I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT DROVE SMOOTHLY AT FIRST BUT I COULD HEAR A SCRAPING OR RUBBING SOUND AS I PUT ON THE BRAKES OR HIT THE ACCELERATOR AFTER BRAKING. AFTER PARKING AT MY DESTINATION, WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT TO LEAVE I HEARD AND FELT RUMBLING AND SCRAPPING ON THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS WHEEL. I LOOKED AND SAW THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LINER WAS BROKEN AND COLLAPSED AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING ON THE WHEEL WELL. I PUSHED THE LINER INTO PLACE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO TESLA SERVICE (3 MILES AWAY) NOTICING MY BRAKES WHERE SLIPPING WHEN APPLIED. ON ARRIVAL THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME MY LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS BROKEN AND ASKED ME IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I TOLD HIM NO, AND HE SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO ELEVATE THE CAR TO LOOK AT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE LEFT CONTROL ARM FORE LINK HAD SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. TESLA FIXED BOTH THE FAILED LEFT AND THE INTACT RIGHT UNDER WARRANTY ALONG WITH THE WHEEL LINER, ALIGNED THE CAR AND IT IS NOW RUNNING NORMAL. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE FORE LINK ASSEMBLY IN THE MODEL S AND BELIEVE THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
THE MCU IN MY CAR SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. I COULD DRIVE IT BUT HAD NO SPEEDOMETER, NO SIGNALS, NOTHING THAT IS CRITICAL TO DRIVING SAFELY. IT WOULD NOT START CONSISTENTLY AND I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY HOME. THE MCU IS THE CENTRAL COMPUTER IN THE CAR THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING. *TR
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE CAR IN A PARKING SPACE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN AND CRASHED OVER A SMALL CONCRETE RETAINING WALL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY CAR AND THE CAR THAT WAS STRUCK WERE TOTALED.
RECENTLY REPLACED TESLA WINDSHIELD HAS GHOSTING ISSUES. WHEN REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER, TESLA SAYS ITS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS, NO TEST RESULTS OR THE TYPE OF TEST COMPLETED WAS PROVIDED AS PROOF.
BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FORE LINK FAILED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS DAMAGED THE WHEEL, TIRE AND WHEEL WELL.
I have reported several comparable incidents that this recent article describes https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/22/tesla-crash-full-self-driving-mode-san-francisco?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other to Tesla in 2020. Our Model S doesn't have full-autonomy software, and in our case the described "braking for no reason" happen in cruise-control mode, without the (semi) auto-pilot engaged. In one of our incidents the sudden emergency-like braking caused a rear-end collision with the car behind me, it was however light enough that no visible damage was caused to either vehicle. We had paid $5,000 for the (semi) auto-pilot feature when we purchased the vehicle in 2017. I reported these incidents to Tesla (I have the emails and their responses) and after several rejections from Tesla that the issues were not reproducible I asked them to take the vehicle back (trade-in) and remove it from the streets because it was unsafe to drive. I further argued that I can't sell this vehicle to someone with good conscience without letting them know that they should not use cruise control. Tesla never acknowledged an issue and also never took ownership of the problem, we are still driving this vehicle today. I'm available to provide further detail if needed.
I HAVE REACHED OUT TO TESLA 3 TIMES TO FIX A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE. 11 DAYS AFTER I REPORTED THE ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS OK TO DRIVE I GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. IT TOOK TESLA 5 MONTHS TO GIVE BACK THE REPORTS OF THE CRASH IN WHICH THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT. I HAVE LOST TRUST IN THE COMPANY AND HAVE SEEN THAT 127 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE ACCORDING TO CNN PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. ANY TESLA OWNER IS A PIONEER OF A FUTURE CREATION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THEY TOLD ME AUTOPILOT IS ON BETA MODE ITS NOT PERFECT YET. THEY SHOULD NOT ALLOW PUBLIC TO USE A HAZARDOUS SOFTWARE. ALSO TESLA EMPLOYEES WERE VERY NEGLIGENT. I ALMOST DIED IN THIS ACCIDENT WITH MY FATHER AND THE MANAGER HAD NO IDEA OF MY CASE EVEN AFTER MY CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. I GOT INTO A ACCIDENT 11 DAYS AFTER THEY OK'D MY CAR PLEASE HELP AS I AM FRUSTRATED AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE OR WHO TO GET TO FIX MY CAR. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF ADDRESSING SUDDEN INTENDED ACCELERATION TO TESLA MULTIPLE TIMES. THANK YOU
ON SATURDAY 5/11/2019 AROUND 12:45PM WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD SOUND THEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY LEAVING ME STUCK. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CAR DISPLAY AN ERROR ON THE CENTER CONSOLE "UNABLE TO DRIVE, PLEASE PROCEED TO SAFETY" (SOMETHING LIKE THIS) I DID NOT TAKE A PHOTO SINCE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BEING REAR ENDED. I HAD TO CALL 911 TO STOP ALL TRAFFIC SO THE CAR COULD BE PUSHED OFF THE HIGHWAY. AS WE WERE ABOUT TO PUSH THE CAR IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR INTO TESLA SERVICE SO THEY CAN TRY TO DETERMINE WHY THIS OCCURRED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO MYSELF AND OTHERS IF THIS HAPPENED DURING NON RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC.
WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE YESTERDAY, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER MOVING IT BACK A FEW FEET, THE CAR WOULD GO SO I DROVE IT A MILE HOME VERY SLOWLY AND CALLED FOR A TOW. THEY TOOK THE CAR AWAY YESTERAY. WHEN MOVING THE CAR TO THE TOW TRUCK, A THREE-INCH ALUMINUM PIECE TORN ON BOTH ENDS AND BADLY MANGLED FELL OUT.
MODEL S HAS LOST RANGE COMPARED TO WHAT WAS ADVERTISED. ALSO MANY PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN CAUSE DIFFICULT STEERING
I HAVE CONTACTED TESLA MULTIPLE TIMES FOR CENTER SCREEN NOT REBOOTING AFTER PARKING AT SHOPPING CENTER OR AT HOME. THIS STARTED IN MARCH 2019 AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THIS HAPPENED AGIN A FEW DAYS AGO AND I REPORTED IT TO TESLA. NO RESPONSE SO FAR. CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE SCREEN LIGHTS ON. AT ONE TIME I WAS TOLD MODULE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED BUT HAVE HAD NO ACTION FROM TESLA SO FAR.NEED YOUR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM.
WHILE REVERSING MY VEHICLE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT, A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CAUSE OF THE SOUND WAS NOT VISIBLE. I CONTINUED DRIVING A FEW MILES WHILE LISTENING FOR ANY CHANGES TO THE VEHICLE. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, I PREPARED TO ENTER THE FREEWAY. AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I ADVISED THEM OF MY OBSERVATIONS AND WAS ISSUED A PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS OF DEBRIS IN THE BRAKE CALIPER. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE MY CAR TO A HIGH-PRESSURE WASHING STATION TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS. WHILE PARKING AT MY DESTINATION, I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED A BIT MORE FORCE TO DURN THE WHEEL; AS I WAS ENCOUNTERING MORE RESISTANCE THAN USUAL WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. I NOTICED A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2' TALL AND 1' WIDE HAD BEEN WORN THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL LINER BEHIND THE REAR OF THE TIRE. THROUGH THE HOLE, I SAW SOME WIRE COVERINGS AND A PIECE OF THE VEHICLE'S ALUMINUM FRAME. I ALSO OBSERVED THE WHEEL WOULD RUB UP AGAINST THE EXPOSED METAL FRAME WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. I CALLED TESLA ROADSIDE AGAIN AND UPDATED THEM OF MY FINDINGS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN FORE-LINK ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION. THE FORE-LINKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE WHEEL WELL LINER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THROUGH THE GARAGE AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED. THE CONTACT CALLED TESLA AT 858-558-1555 (LOCATED AT 4545 LA JOLLA VILLAGE DR, SUITE D17, SAN DIEGO, CA 92122) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,859. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED SHE DID RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THIS ACCIDENT. *TR